‘Liberate Michigan’: Months of angry rhetoric precede Whitmer kidnap plot
by Kelly House, Paula Gardner, Riley Beggin (Bridge) Michigan was still early into its coronavirus lockdown when tensions publicly flared between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and President Donald Trump as coronavirus raged through southeast Michigan and the state fought for enough medical equipment to handle it. “Your Governor, Gretchen ‘Half’ Whitmer is way in over her […]
FBI claims Michigan militia group tried to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Note: This post contains explicit language by Jonathan Oosting, Kelly House (Bridge) LANSING — Federal officials say six armed men and others piled into three vehicles late Sept. 12, traveling in the dark from a militia member’s property in northern Michigan to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s cottage about a half-hour away. Those men, arrested and charged […]
As coronavirus spreads in Michigan, racial and age disparities shrink
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) The coronavirus is striking older Michigan residents disproportionately in the past few weeks, raising concerns that an increase in hospitalizations will worsen. From mid-August through mid-September, younger residents — including college students — made up the lion’s share of new COVID-19 cases, some 60 percent of new cases. During that time, […]
Health officials: Party on (safely) during rare Blue Moon Halloween
By Robin Erb (Bridge) After more than six months of canceled events and subdued holiday celebrations caused by COVID, Michiganders are ready to party on a rare Blue Moon Halloween. “People are going to celebrate harder because so much has been taken away from them this year,” said Dave Douglas, owner of Crypt Keepers Halloween Emporium […]
Michigan unemployment benefits expanded to 59 weeks for some workers
by Paula Gardner (Bridge) Some jobless workers in Michigan could qualify for up to 59 weeks of unemployment benefits due to a federal extension triggered by the state’s high unemployment rate due to COVID-19. An additional 20 weeks of benefits are now possible for the laid-off workers who qualified for benefits through the state’s regular program paid […]
Small business confidence inches up in Michigan. Will sales follow?
By Paula Gardner (Bridge) Michigan’s small business owners are expressing more confidence that they’ll survive the coronavirus pandemic, but also say pressures facing them remain acute. Six months into the global health crisis, the state’s smallest employers say their biggest worry is lost sales, according to a recent survey by the Small Business Association of […]
Michigan dam safety program underfunded, understaffed, slow to enforce
by Kelly House (Bridge) Michigan’s dam safety program suffers from a “culture of minimal enforcement” and lacks the time, staff and budget to properly do its job. That’s the conclusion of an independent review team tasked with scrutinizing Michigan’s dam safety program in the wake of the May 19 Edenville and Sanford dam failures that […]
Bills to wipe criminal records clean pass Michigan Legislature
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Bills that would likely make hundreds of thousands more Michiganders eligible to have their criminal records wiped clean passed the state House Thursday with bipartisan support. They are now on their way to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk, where they are expected to be signed into law. The package would dramatically change […]
Whitmer: Michigan movie theaters can open and K-5 students must wear masks
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Movie theaters, performance and event venues, arcades, bowling alleys and more will be allowed to reopen on Oct. 9 after months of being closed, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday afternoon. In a separate order issued Friday afternoon, the governor also announced all students in K-12 schools must wear a face […]
MSU, U-M, Wayne State presidents: Don’t expect in-person classes until fall 2021
by Ron French (Bridge) College classes likely will remain virtually all online for another year at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, the presidents of the three colleges said Thursday. While those predictions are not set in stone, MSU President Samuel Stanley, Wayne President Roy Wilson, and U-M president Mark […]
